Construction key tumbler cylinder assembly



Oct. 23, 1962 M. M. CHECK 3,059,462

CONSTRUCTION KEY TUMBLER CYLINDER ASSEMBLY Filed April 7, 1960 2Sheets-Sheet 1 1N VEN TOR. /VArf//As /7 C//e'c/ United States Patent Ofice 3,959,462 Patented Oct. 23, 1962 3,059,462 CONSTRUCTIN KEY TUR/BIERCYLINDER ASSElvmLY Mathias M. Check, Stratford, Pa., assigner to TheYale & Towne Manufacturing Company, Stamford, Conn., a corporation ofConnecticut Filed Apr. 7, 1960, Ser. No. 20,733 S Claims. (Cl. 70-384)This invention relates to a tumbler cylinder assembly for locks thatwill be used in equipping new buildings. More particularly, my inventionrelates to a novel tumbler cylinder assembly, that, during theconstruction of a building, can be operated lby a particular key, calleda construction key, but that can be very easily and quickly converted sothat thereafter it will be operated only by the new owners key.

It will be appreciated that a builder will install a lock during theconstruction of a building, and will have a key that he and hisemployees will -use to gain admittance. Generally, it has been thepractice to use a key like the one that will be given to the new owneror occupant when he takes possession of the building. This practice isobjectionableLbecause it may give an unauthorized person an opportunityto retain or to supply himself with a duplicate key, enabling him toenter the building at any time. Naturally, it is possible to change thetumbler combination of a conventional lock cylinder assembly, but thatprocedure is discouraged by the trouble and expense that are involved.The prior art has developed cylinders that are particularly designed toallow changing of the combination, but those cylinders are rathercomplicated and costly, or do not offer the security that is desired.

Through the novel concept of my invention, I contribute a relatively lowcost lock cylinder assembly that will in effect allow the tumblercombination to be changed, that being done through a very simpleoperation. Thereby I make it entirely practical for a builder to equip abuilding with a lock that can be operated by a construction key, whilethe owners key is kept in careful custody. Then, when giving the ownerhis key, the builder will be able to assure him that there are noduplicate keys in the hands of persons who should not have them.Moreover, once my novel cylinder assembly is converted for the ownersuse, it positively cannot be operated through manipulation of theconstruction key and will offer the owner the full security of the lock.

In my novel tumbler cylinder assembly, I am able to utilize a key plughaving a rather conventional series of pin tumblers that move relativelyto a keyway in the key plug. Those tumblers are adapted to lock the keyplug in the outer portion of the cylinder, but will allow rotation ofthe plug when each tumbler is in a release position. I particularlyequip my assembly with means that hold one of the tumblers in releaseposition. With one tumbler so held, it will be appreciated that the lockcan be operated by a construction key that merely moves the remainingtumblers to release position. The means that hold the one tumbler are soformed and related to the tumbler that pressure applied against thosemeans will free said tumbler for movement. The means cannot be movedagain to a position holding the tumbler. To operate the lock thereafter,it will be necessary to move all of the tumblers to release position.That must be done by using the owners key, and the construction key nolonger will be effective.

In the construction that I prefer, the tumbler holding means include apin that has a press t in the opening in the front of the key plug. Inassembling that construction, the pin is pressed inwardly in the openingand into contact with the first tumbler, that is, the tumbler nearestthe front of the key plug, whereby to hold that tumbler in releaseposition. The pin can be pressed further inwardly to a position in whichit no longer will hold the iirst tumbler, and cannot then be returned toholding position. Thereafter the rst tumbler will operate in aconventional way, and all of the tumblers in the series must be moved bythe owners key in order to allow rotation of the key plug.

I have thus outlined rather broadly the more important features of myinvention in order that the detailed description thereof that followsmay be better understood, and in order that my contribution to the artmay be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features ofmy invention that will Ibe described hereinafter and which will form thesubject of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art willappreciate that the conception on which my disclosure is based mayreadily be utilized as a 'basis for the designing of other structuresfor carrying out the several purposes of my invention. It is important,therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalentconstructions as do not depart from the spirit and scope of -myinvention, in order to prevent the appropriation of my invention bythose skilled in the art. g

Referring now to the drawings,

FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal section of my bler cylinder assembly;

FIG.V 2 shows an end view of the cylinder assembly shown in FIG. l1;

FIG. 3 shows a construction key that will be used to operate my cylinderassembly;

FIG. 4 shows the key that the owner will use to operate my cylinderassembly;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section showing a further form of my invention;

FIG. 6 shows an end view of another Aform of my novel cylinder assembly;v

FIG. 7 is a section on the line 7-7 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is similar to FIG. 7, but shows the position ofv the holdingmember when moved from the first tumbler;

FIG. 9 is a cross section on the line 9-9 in FIG. 8.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. l of the draw-k ings, I indicatemy novel cylinder assembly generally by the numeral 10, and I show a keyplug 11 that is adapted to rotate in the outer body of the cylinder. Keyplug 11 is equipped with a series of pin tumblers 12 that move inopenings arranged longitudinally of a keyway 13 in the plug, and thatactually are rather conventional. The body of cylinder 10 has a seriesof driver tumblers 14 that are pressed by springs 15', and that act inthe locking position-of key plug 11 to press the tumblers 12 toward thekeyway 13. 'Ihose persons skilled in the art will understand that thetumblers 12 may effect locking of the key plug '11, but -will allowrotation of the plug when moved to release positions by the insertion ofa key in keyway 13.

In the particular form of my invention that I show in FIG. 1, I form aninclined opening 16 in the frontend of the key plug11. That opening 16extends inwardly to the rst tumbler in the series 12, which I indicateby the numeral 17, and meets the opening in which tumbler 17 moves at apoint just above keyway 13. I utilize a pin 18 that yhas a press lit inthe opening 16. When assembling the key plug and tumblers, the pin 18 ispressed into a position extending below the tumbler 17, as shown in FIG.l, the arrangement being such that pin 18 will hold the tumbler 17 in arelease position, or in other words with its upper end in alignedrelation Vto the surface of key plug 11.

novel tum- It will now bey possible to operate the key plug 11 throughthe construction key A that I show in FIG. 3. Thus, the key A is formedwith bittings 18 that are adapted to set in release positions alltumblers of the series 12, except the first tumbler 1'7. Key A has abitting 19 adapted to set tumbler 17 in a locking position, but as shownin FIG. 1, pin 18 holds tumbler 17 so that it remains in releaseposition, enabling construction key A to operate the key plug 11.

I now call attention to the fact that the opening 16 will enable the pin18 to be pressed inwardly, as by tool T inserted in the opening 16. Thepin 18 when pressed inwardly will move out of holding relation to thetumbler 17 and into the keyway 13, and can then be removed from the keyplug. When the pin 18 no longer holds the tumbler 17, that tumblernaturally will move downwardly, thus acting in the usual way to effectlocking of the key plug 11. To operate the key plug 11, it will now benecessary to use a key that will move all of the tumbler series 12,including tumbler 17, to release position.

That key will be the owners key, which I indicate by the letter B inFIG. 4. The key B is formed with bittings like the -bittings 18 on the'key A, but has also a hitting 20 that will move the first tumbler 177to release position. It will lbe understood that the key plug 11 nolonger can be operated through manipulation of the construction key A,andthe cylinder assembly will have the full security that is offered bythe series of tumblers 12.

The construction that I show in FIG. is quite like that which -I havedescribed in connection with FIGS. 1 to 4, and utilizes a pin 25 whichis assembled with a press tit in a bore 26 in the front end of key plug11. In FIG. 5, however, the bore 26 does not extend toward keyway 13,but extends to a medial part of the first tumbler 117. I form thetumbler 117 withv a 'bore 27 that is adapted to `accept the pin 25.However, in its initial assembled position, the pin 25 willremain-partly in the opening 26, as shown in- FIG. S, so as to holdtumbler 117 in release position. By the insertion of tool T in theopening 26, the pin 25 can be pressed entirely into the bore 27 so thatit no longer is in holding relation to tumbler 117. Thus, the' cylinderconstruction that I show in FIG. 5 canvery readily be converted forv theuse of the owners key, in much the same mannerthat I have described inconnection with FIG. 1.

In FIGS. 6 to 9, I form the front end of the key plug 11 with an opening30 that extends in an odset position intersecting one side of theopening in which the Erst tumbler 217 moves. The first tumbler 217 has aperipheral groove 31, FIG. 9, that will be aligned with the opening 30when tumbler 217 is in release position. Into the opening 30 I press apin 32 having an end portion 33 that engages in the groove 31, as shownin FIG. 7, thereby holding tumbler 217 so that it will not eect lockingof the key plug. The pin 32 has also a reduced portion 34 that will bealigned with tumbler 217 when pin 32 is pressed inwardly, as shown inFIG. 8, thereby allowing tumbler 217 to move. I show the pin 32 formedto project from the key plug 11 when the pin is in its initial position,as in FIG. 7, so that it can be driven inwardly by a tool that does notenter the opening 30. However, I may very well make the pin 32 shorter,since it may then be moved by a tool inserted in the opening 30 as inFIGS. 1 and 5; Actually, I may use for holding the tumbler 217 a steelball that may be pressed into the opening 30 sol as to coact with thetumbler groove 31. It is merely necessary to know that the pin or otherholding member 32 can be moved in only one direction, that is, into theposition shown in FIG. 8, placing the iii-st tumbler 217 in normaloperation. Once that is done, all of the tumblers will require keyoperation, and the owners key will be necessary in order to set thetumblers in release position. Y

It is conceivable, of course, that the novel concept of my invention maybe practiced by using a' tumbler holding member that is mounted on thebody of a lock cylinder. Thus, for example, the bore 27 in FIG. 5 mayvery well be formed in the first driver tumbler 14, the opening 26 thenbeing formed in the cylinder body so that the pin 25 can engage in thebore 27. By holding the first driver 14, the pin 25 in eect will holdtumbler 117 in release position, and the cylinder assembly will operatein the same manner that I have already described in connection with FIG.5. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to a tumbler holding memberthat is particularly utilized on a key plug.

I believe that those persons skilled in the art will now understand thatI have contributed a novel tumbler cylinder assembly having a veryconsiderable value. Through my invention, it will be possible, atrelatively low cost, to equip a building with a lock that can veryreadily be converted for the use of the owners key. The builder willhave a construction key that will at -iirst operate the lock, but oncethe lock is converted it positively can not be manipulated in such a waythat it will again allow the use of the construction key. Very littleexpense or trouble will be involved in equipping a building with mynovel cylinder assembly, so that the builder will nd it practical tootter the owner better security. Therefore, I believe that the merits ofmy invention will be fully appreciated.

I now claim:

l. A lock tumbler cylinder assembly of the kind includ ing a cylinder, akey plug rotatable in the cylinder, and a series of movable tumblers inthe cylinder and key plug for locking said key plug against rotation andadapted to be moved by a key inserted through the front of the key plug,said tumblers allowing rotation of the key plug when each tumbler is inarelease posi-tion,

a member mounted inposition engaged between the key plug and one of saidtumblers to hold that tumbler in release position,

said member by holding said one tumbler enabling the cylinder assemblyto be operated by a first key that moves merely the remaining tumblersto release position,

a part on the key plug formed with an opening in which said member isadapted to move in a direction rearwandly of the key plug and out ofengagement between the key plug and said one tumbler,

and a front portion of the key plug formed to expose a surface of thetumbler holding member so that the member can be pressed rearwardly insaid opening whereby to free said one tumbler, so that thereafter asecond key that moves all of the tumblers to release position will -benecessary in order to operate the cylinder assembly.

2. A lock tumbler cylinder assembly of the kind including a cylinder, akey plug rotatable in said cylinder, and a series of movable tumblers inthe cylinder and key plug for locking the key plug against rotation andadapted to be moved by a key inserted through the front of the plug,said tumblers allowing rotation of the key plug when each tumbler is ina release position,

a part of said cylinder assembly formed with an opening extending fromthe front of the cylinder assembly inwardly to one of said tumblers,

a member assembled in said opening in contact with said one of thetumblers and having a portion in opposed relation to a surface on saidtumbler to hold that tumbler in its release position, enabling the keyplug to be operated through the use of a construction key that movesmerely the remaining tumblers to their release position,

a surface of said member being exposed for an application of pressure inan inward direction to said member in said opening,

a part of the cylinder assembly formed rearwardly of the tumbler holdingmember with clearance that enables pressure applied to said sur-face ofthe member to move said member away from holding relation to said onetumbler, allowing said tumbler to move to a locking position,

and said last named part of the cylinder assembly covering furthersurfaces of said member to prevent an application of pressure in an`outward direction to said member, so that once the member is pressedout of tumbler holding position, there will be necessary to operate thekey plug a second key that will set all of the tumblers in releaseposition.

3. A lock tumbler cylinder assembly of the kind including a cylinder, akey plug rotatable in said cylinder, and a series of movable tumblers insaid cylinder and key plug for locking said plug against rotation andadapted to be moved by a key inserted through the -front of the keyplug, said tumblers allowing rotation of the key plug when each tumbleris in a release position,

an opening formed to extend in said key plug from the front of the pluginwardly to one of said tumblers,

a member having a press iit in said opening and pressed into positioncontacting said one of the tumblers,

said member having a portion in opposed relation to a surface on saidone tumbler to hold that tumbler in its release position, enabling thekey plug to be operated through the use of a construction key that movesmerely the remaining tumblers -to their release position,

and a part on the key plug formed rearwardly of the tumbler holdingmember with clearance that enables said member to be pressed in aninward direction away from holding relation to said one tumbler,allowing said -tumbler to move to a locking position and makingnecessary to operate the key plug a second key that will set all of thetumblers in release position.

4. A lock tumbler cylinder assembly of the kind including a cylinder, akey plug rotatable in said cylinder, and a series of tumblers effectiveeach for locking the key plug against rotation and movable to a releaseposition to allow rotation of the plug, said tumblers being assembled ina series of bores that are arranged longitudinally on the key plug andcylinder and adapted to be moved in said bores by a key inserted throughthe front of the key plus,

an opening for-med in the front end of the key plug and extending to thebore which is nearest the front of the key plug and in which moves a rsttumbler,

a member inserted in said opening and into contact with said firsttumbler,

said member having a portion in opposed relation to a surface on thefirst tumbler to hold that tumbler in release position, said key plugthen being operable by a construction key that will move to releasepositions merely the tumblers rearwardly of said first tumbler,

and a part on said key plug formed rearwardly of the tumbler holdingmember with clearance enabling said member to be pressed in a rearwarddirection to a position in which it no longer holds said rst tumbler,allowing said first tumbler to move to a locking position and makingnecessary thereafter to operate the key plug a second key that will moveall of the tum-blers to release positions.

5. A combination of the class described including a lock cylinder, a keyplug rotatable in said cylinder, and a longitudinal series of springpressed tumblers in said cylinder and key plug for locking the plugagainst rotation, sai-d tumblers adapted to move against their springpressure and to be set when engaged by the bittings of a key insertedlongitudinally through the front end of a keyway in the key plug,

a construction key bitted -for setting in a locking position the rsttumbler nearest the front of the key plug while setting the remainingtumblers in release position,

' a member assembled on the key plug and engaged between the plug andsaid rst tumbler to hold that tumbler away from the correspondingbitting of the construction key and in release position so that the keyplug can be operated by the construction key,

and said key plug being formed with means enabling said member to bemoved out of holding relation to said rst tumbler to allow that tumblerto move to a locking position, so that the construction key no longercan operate the key plug.

6. A lock tumbler cylinder assembly of the kind including a cylinder, akey plug rotatable in said cylinder, and a series of tumblers forlocking the key plug against rotation and adapted to be moved in boresin the key plug and cylinder -by a -key inserted in a keyway in theplug, said tumblers allowing rotation of the key plug when each tumbleris in a release position,

said key plug having an opening extending from the front of the pluginwardly to the key plug bore in which one of said tumblers moves andbeing inclined toward said keyway,

a member assembled in said opening and extending under said one of thetumblers to hold that tumbler in its release position, enabling the keyplug to be operated through the use of a construction key that movesmerely the remaining tumblers to their release position,

'said tumbler holding member adapted to be pressed inwardly into saidkeyway whereby to move out of holding relation to said one tumbler,allowing said one tumbler to move to a locking position so that theconstruction key no longer will operate the key plus,

and said member being suiciently narrow to be moved freely through thekeyway to a position in which it does not obstruct movement of a key insaid keyway.

7. A lock tumbler cylinder assembly of the kind including a cylinder, akey plug rotatable in said cylinder, and a l'series of tumblers in thekey plug and cylinder for locking the key plug against rotation andadapted to be moved by a key inserted through the fron-t of the plug,said tumblers allowing rotation of the key plug when each tumbler is ina release position,

said key plug having an opening extending from the -front of the pluginwardly to one of said tumblers,

a member assembled in said opening and engaged with said one of thetumblers to hold that tumbler in its release position, enabling the keyplug to be operated through the use of a construction key that movesmerely the remaining tumblers to their release positions,

and said one tumbler formed with a bore into which the tumbler holdingmember can be moved so that the member no longer is in said key plugopening, allowing said tumbler to move to a locking position and makingnecessary to operate the key plug a second key that will set all of thetumblers in release position.

8. A lock tumbler cylinder assembly of the kind including a cylinder, akey plug rotatable in said cylinder, and a series of tumblers in saidcylinder and key plug -for locking the key plug against rotation andadapted to be moved by a key inserted through the front of the plug,said sumblers allowing rotation of the key plug when each tumbler is ina release position,

said key plug having an opening extending from the -front of the pluginwardly to one of said tumblers and beyond that tumbler,

a lgroove formed in the periphery of said one tumbler,

a member assembled in said opening and engaged in the groove of saidtumbler to hold that tumbler in its release position, enabling the keyplug to be operated through the use of a construction key that movesmerely the remaining tumbler's to their release position,

and an inner portion of said inwardly extending opening enabling saidltumbler member to be moved in an inward direction away fromengagement:y with said one tumbler, allowing said tumbler to move to alocking position so that the construction key no longer will operate thekey plug.

UNITED STATESv PATENTS Woll Nov. 22, 1927 Hardy Mar. 10', 1931 Keil July2, 1935 Maxwell et al. Oct. 27, 1936 Ziegliss Apr. 1 1952

